Verizon Galaxy S8 USA S8's 4G compatibility in China? Help me get this straight please.

[msp1518]

UPDATED AT BOTTOM (looking for info on the Unlocked Samsung as well)

Hey there, I am really wanting to snag an S8 when I return to North Carolina (I spend half the year in China working each year), but I am having a devil of a time understanding the 4G bands and what is what. willmyphonework.net was very helpful last year in telling me an iPhone 6S+ will work in 4G on all three Chinese carriers.

But that phone is ridiculously big. I'd love to try to S8, but that website is not updated for the S8 as of yet. I need an S8 that will work with Verizon in the USA and China Telecom in China.

In North Carolina I need Verizon coverage since AT&T, T-Mobile and SPRINT are basically no-go for coverage where I live.

China Telecom is my preferred provider in China (I have a hell of a good deal) and this is info I found on them (it also lists coverage for China Unicom and Mobile):

LTE frequency bands in China (CTC, CMCC, CUC)

China Unicom 2300 - 2320, 2300 - 2320 TDD Band 40
China Unicom 2555 - 2575, 2555 - 2575 TDD Band 41
China Telecom 2370 - 2390, 2370 - 2390 TDD Band 40
China Telecom 2635 - 2655, 2635 - 2655 TDD Band 41
China Mobile (CMCC) 1880 - 1890, 1880 - 1890 TDD Band 39
China Mobile (CMCC) 2320 - 2370, 2320 - 2370 TDD Band 40
China Mobile (CMCC) 2575 - 2635, 2575 - 2635 TDD Band 41

And of course Verizon lists the following information...

NETWORK:
CDMA 1X and EvDO Rev 0/Rev ALTE (Domestic): B13/B4/B2/B5/B66

GLOBAL:
LTE (Global): B3/B7/B20/B8/B18/B19/B28/B26GSM Quad B5/B8/B3/B2 (850/900/1800/1900MHz) & UMTS Quad: B5/B8/B2/B1 (850/9001900/2100MHz) TDS CDMA 34, 39 & TDD LTE 38, 39, 40, 41, LTE-U: B252/B255(in SU)CAT 4/ CAT 6/ CAT 9

Forgive my dyslexic mind (literally) but I am going cross-eyed. Can anyone lend me a hand?

If I am reading it correctly I won't get coverage. But I cannot trust myself in this.

UPDATE: I am now looking at what bands might be missing from the Samsung UNLOCKED phone.

 

[Almeuit]

Hey there, I am really wanting to snag an S8 when I return to North Carolina (I spend half the year in China working each year), but I am having a devil of a time understanding the 4G bands and what is what. willmyphonework.net was very helpful last year in telling me an iPhone 6S+ will work in 4G on all three Chinese carriers.

But that phone is ridiculously big. I'd love to try to S8, but that website is not updated for the S8 as of yet. I need an S8 that will work with Verizon in the USA and China Telecom in China.

In North Carolina I need Verizon coverage since AT&T, T-Mobile and SPRINT are basically no-go for coverage where I live.

China Telecom is my preferred provider in China (I have a hell of a good deal) and this is info I found on them (it also lists coverage for China Unicom and Mobile):

LTE frequency bands in China (CTC, CMCC, CUC)

China Unicom 2300 - 2320, 2300 - 2320 TDD Band 40
China Unicom 2555 - 2575, 2555 - 2575 TDD Band 41
China Telecom 2370 - 2390, 2370 - 2390 TDD Band 40
China Telecom 2635 - 2655, 2635 - 2655 TDD Band 41
China Mobile (CMCC) 1880 - 1890, 1880 - 1890 TDD Band 39
China Mobile (CMCC) 2320 - 2370, 2320 - 2370 TDD Band 40
China Mobile (CMCC) 2575 - 2635, 2575 - 2635 TDD Band 41

And of course Verizon lists the following information...

NETWORK:
CDMA 1X and EvDO Rev 0/Rev ALTE (Domestic): B13/B4/B2/B5/B66

GLOBAL:
LTE (Global): B3/B7/B20/B8/B18/B19/B28/B26GSM Quad B5/B8/B3/B2 (850/900/1800/1900MHz) & UMTS Quad: B5/B8/B2/B1 (850/9001900/2100MHz) TDS CDMA 34, 39 & TDD LTE 38, 39, 40, 41, LTE-U: B252/B255(in SU)CAT 4/ CAT 6/ CAT 9

Forgive my dyslexic mind (literally) but I am going cross-eyed. Can anyone lend me a hand?

If I am reading it correctly I won't get coverage. But I cannot trust myself in this.

Check out http://willmyphonework.net/ -- good site .

 

[racedog]

Check out http://willmyphonework.net/ -- good site .

The OP pointed out that he had already checked out that site but the S8 is not yet listed. Since you listed it again I checked it just in case the S8 had been added but it is still not listed there.

 

[Almeuit]

The OP pointed out that he had already checked out that site but the S8 is not yet listed. Since you listed it again I checked it just in case the S8 had been added but it is still not listed there.

Doh you're right. I missed that .. I went into reading the bands and whatnot :-x.

 

[TheyCallMeBT]

...

It's taken a little while to look up. But first, it looks like most of the bands have two names. Like B38 is the same as 2600.

Here's the frequencies of the Verizon model, from Samsung. You have to click full specs. I'll quote them.

Galaxy S8 (Verizon) | Owner Information & Support | Samsung US

Frequencies and Data Type
2G GSM: GSM850,GSM900,DCS1800,PCS1900
2G CDMA: CDMA800,USPCS1900
3G UMTS: B1(2100), B2(1900), B5(850), B8(900)
3G CDMA: BC0(800), BC1(1900)
4G FDD LTE: B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B13(700), B18(800), B19(800), B20(800), B26(800), B28(700)
4G TDD LTE: B38(2600),B39(1900),B40(2300),B41(2500), 2G GSM: GSM850,GSM900,DCS1800,PCS1900
2G CDMA: CDMA800,USPCS1900
3G UMTS: B1(2100), B2(1900), B5(850), B8(900)
3G CDMA: BC0(800), BC1(1900)
4G FDD LTE: B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B13(700), B18(800), B19(800), B20(800), B26(800), B28(700)
4G TDD LTE: B38(2600),B39(1900),B40(2300),B41(2500), 2G GSM: GSM850,GSM900,DCS1800,PCS1900
2G CDMA: CDMA800,USPCS1900
3G UMTS: B1(2100), B2(1900), B5(850), B8(900)
3G CDMA: BC0(800), BC1(1900)
4G FDD LTE: B2(1900),B3(1800),B4(AWS),B5(850),B7(2600),B8(900),B13(700),B18(800),B19(800), B20(800),B26(800),B28(700)
4G TDD LTE: B38(2600),B39(1900),B40(2300),B41(2500)

Here are the bands that China Telecom supports, according to this website. Note the person's comment on the page (which may or may not be correct).

https://www.frequencycheck.com/carriers/china-telecom-china

I read that they are the number 3 cell service in China, so it might be easier to find the bands of the top one from an official website.

And finally, from that same website. I searched using the model number of the Verizon version, which is SM-G950U. Looks like as long as you have LTE coverage, you should be fine with any carrier.

https://www.frequencycheck.com/comp...td-lte-sm-g950u1-sm-g950w-samsung-dream/china

 

[msp1518]

Thanks for the help. I just bought an S8 off Swappa. $600 not used Verizon model. A nice savings so fingers crossed.

 

[TheyCallMeBT]

Thanks for the help. I just bought an S8 off Swappa. $600 not used Verizon model. A nice savings so fingers crossed.

That's great! So are you in China now? Either way, let us know how it works out on the carrier there!

 

[msp1518]

That's great! So are you in China now? Either way, let us know how it works out on the carrier there!

I am in China now but return in a week so the phone will be waiting for me. i'll use it over the summer and if I do like it I will b ring it to China in October and pray.

Also ordered the Alcantara case, which is gorgeous.

 

[TheyCallMeBT]

I am in China now but return in a week so the phone will be waiting for me. i'll use it over the summer and if I do like it I will b ring it to China in October and pray.

Also ordered the Alcantara case, which is gorgeous.

Oooh, that looks fancy. I got the Urban Armor Gear Monarch case.

 

[msp1518]

---

Oooh, that looks fancy. I got the Urban Armor Gear Monarch case.

View attachment 262141

It's a darn fine looking case. What bothers me is the phone is so gorgeous and that means as soon as a case goes on it the phone will be less impressive. That kinda stinks.

 

[TheyCallMeBT]

---

It's a darn fine looking case. What bothers me is the phone is so gorgeous and that means as soon as a case goes on it the phone will be less impressive. That kinda stinks.

Yeah, I know, it does stink. I held out for a while on using phones without cases. It changed from the Galaxy S4 and on. lol. I've been using UAG cases since then. This version that I posted the photo of is a new one that they make. It's a lot nicer than their other models. Still has that rugged military look, but classes it up with the leather and metal and the colors and all. It was $60, so it cost a bit more. Their other model cases are a good bit cheaper. Like $30 I think.

https://urbanarmorgear.com/collections/galaxy-s8-cases

I have a friend and former client who has been doing work in Guangzhou back and forth for a while. He loves it, but I can tell how stressful it is with that constant traveling with that long of flights. So my hats off to you! I do enjoy traveling for work, but I haven't gotten anything international yet.

 

[msp1518]

Gang, just an update and asking an additional question...

Right now Samsung is offering the unlocked S8 for an astoundingly low $425 with a trade-in. I have a working Lenovo A5500 from China (switched to English) which I can trade in and get the $200 credit + $100 extra credit. That final price is INSANELY low.

But will the Unlocked S8 give me the 4G coverage in China the verizon phone looks to have? If so i need to order it.

I would simply sell the one I bought on Swappa the second I get back to the USA on the 28th. I might lose $25 on it, but so what?

Opinions?

 

[TheyCallMeBT]

I don't know this 100% for sure. But I think I've read where someone has said that all of the US versions are the same hardware. It just won't have some of the Verizon features like visual voicemail and wifi calling. I don't know if those things can be activated.

Someone mentioned firmware flashing, and it sounded like an easy process in context. Maybe I read that the first SIM you insert flashes that carrier's firmware?

Again, don't take any of that for certain. I may have misunderstood some of it that I read. Maybe someone will chime in. If not, I'd make a new thread to ask.

 

[msp1518]

I have been looking into firmware flashing and it appears that the S7's and S8's have a partition that cannot be messed with that has the carrier stuff and so it's pretty much a no-go.

 

[TheyCallMeBT]

From another thread.

Well for those who are curious...from someone who answered my questions on another forum and who is using a US unlocked Samsung S8 on VZ...

- WiFi calling does NOT work

- Visual Voicemail with VZ does NOT work and does NOT notify you, although you can setup a Google Voice number and forward your VM to there with notifications

- Video calling does NOT work

- VoLTE and HD Voice DO work

 

[msp1518]

yeah... What I will end up doing is selling my just ordered unlocked phone on SWAPPA unopened and new and make a profit. And I'll just use the other one I ordered a few days ago off of Swappa, which is a new Verizon model, but opened and tested. No receipt on that one, but i should still be able to register it for a warranty.